Nitrogen management in intercropping of Gobhi sarson (Brassica napus L.) and fodder oats (Avena sativa L.)

The field experiment was carried out during rabi 2014–15 and 2015–16 at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with four nitrogen levels in main plots and four nitrogen (N) application schedules in sub plots. Among N levels, application of 175 kg N ha⁻¹ in gobhi sarson + oats fodder intercropping system produced significantly higher seed yield of gobhi sarson, green fodder yield of oats, gobhi sarson equivalent yield and net returns. The number of primary and secondary branches per plant and siliquae per plant were increased significantly up to 175 kg N ha⁻¹. Among the different times of nitrogen application, half dose as basal and second half at first irrigation (T_{1/2 + 1/2 + 0 + 0}) recorded the maximum gobhi sarson equivalent yield and net returns which was at par with T_{1/3 + 1/3 + 1/3 + 0} treatment but significantly higher than T_{1/2 + 0 + 1/4 +1/4} and T_{1/4 +} + oats fodder intercropping system, 175 kg N ha⁻¹ either half dose as basal and second half at first irrigation or one-third dose as basal, one-third at first irrigation and one-third after first cut of oats fodder should be applied.